Combination Sock and Strapless Flip Flop Sole

ABSTRACT

A combination sock and strapless flip flop sole includes a sock adjoined through Velcro or any other adhesive or adjoining material to the strapless flip flop sole, securely and subsequently partially (medially) held to the foot of a wearer. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole is constructed with Velcro or any other adhesive material at the dorsal or vamp (top) of the strapless flip flop sole. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole elastic dorsal or vamp opening of the sock(s) securely engages around the dorsal or vamp of the wearer&#39;s foot and holds the wearer&#39;s foot to the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole by adjoining the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole by the Velcro or any other adhesive material, thereby enabling the strapless flip flop sole to partially separate away from the heel of the wearer&#39;s foot during walking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to a novelconstruction of a combination sock and strapless flip flop sole that issecurely and subsequently partially (medially) held to the foot of awearer. In particular, the present invention pertains to a combinationsock and strapless flip flop sole that includes a conventionallyconstructed flip flop sole, an external and internal sock whichfunctions as one for all purpose sock(s) that is secured partially tothe flip flop sole. The sock(s) is constructed to adjoin and un-adjoinat the wearer's discretion by the wearer mounting the foot on the Velcroor any other adhesive material top surfaced strapless flip flop sole.The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole elastic dorsal openingof the sock securely engages around the dorsal or vamp of the wearer'sfoot and holds the wearer's foot to the combination sock and straplessflip flop sole by adjoining the combination sock and strapless flip flopsole by the Velcro or any other adhesive material, thereby enabling thestrapless flip flop sole to partially separate away from the heel of thewearer's foot during walking.

2. Description of the Related Art

Casual shoes and slippers had been constructed that are combinations ofa shoe sole and a sock. The prior art combination shoe and sock isbasically constructed by securing the bottom surface of a sock to a topsurface of a shoe sole. However, in the prior art combination shoe andsock construction the shoe sole is typically more rigid and lessflexible than the material of the sock, therefore, decreasingcomfort-ability significantly. Furthermore, the sock is bounded to theshoe sole which prevents the comfort and pleasure of a flip flop andwearer's ultimate desire, which is to feel as if they're not wearing ashoe. En addition, the wearer does not have the option and is restrictedby the prior art for interchanging the socks and strapless flip flopsoles. Prior art, deficiency of interchangeability restrict continuityof fashion, comfort, safety, healthy outcomes, and variations of styles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the priorart combination shoe and sock by providing a novel construction of acombination sock and strapless flip flop sole that securely holds thestrapless flip flop sole to the forefoot of a wearer's foot as thewearer walks wearing the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention iscomprised of a strapless flip flop sole, a sock that is secured to thefront portion of the strapless flip flop sole, and the sock is providedwith an elastic dorsal or vamp opening.

The strapless flip flop sole of the combination sock and strapless flip:flop sole is constructed of materials typically employed inconstructing the soles of advanced athletic & casual sandals & flipflops sole such as crocks, athletic shoes, flip flops, and sandals. Thestrapless flip flop sole basically has a top surface, a bottom surface,and a sidewall that surrounds the strapless flip flop sole. Thestrapless flip flop sole bottom surface is the traction surface of thecombination sock and strapless flip flop sole.

The sock can be constructed of any fabric or material typically employedin constructing socks. The sock is also constructed with the typicalconfiguration of a sock. A bottom portion of the sock is secured to thetop surface of the strapless flip flop sole. A top portion or vampportion of the sock extends upwardly, defining a forward foot area ofthe sock and strapless flip flop sole combination. A heel portion of thesock extends upwardly from the bottom portion and rearward from the topportion and defines a rearward foot area of the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole. A forefront portion of the sock extendsupwardly from both the vamp portion and heel portion and defines aforefront elastic band opening into the sock.

Band(s) having elastic property surrounds a forefront opening of thesock. The band can be stretched from a contracted shape to an expandedshape, where the forefront opening of the sock in the expanded shape islarger than the forefront opening in the contracted shape. The elasticproperties of the band enable the sock forefront opening to return tothe contracted forefront opening area after being stretched to theexpanded forefront opening area. The elastic bands are embedded insidethe sock therefore concealed from view. In addition, the sock enablesthe wearer's foot to be easily inserted into the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole, in the same manner as inserting the foot intoconventional sock.

With the wearer's foot inserted into the combination sock and straplessflip flop sole, the embedded elastic band adjoined with the bottomportion of Velcro or any other adhesive material of the sock securelyengages around the forefront of the wearer's foot by adjoining to thetop of the strapless flip flop sole by Velcro or any other adhesivematerial top surface of the strapless flip flop sole, this secures thecombination sock and strapless flip flop sole to the wearer's foot. Whenwalking with the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole on thewearer's foot, as the heel of the foot is lifted during a stride, theelastic band of the sock securely holds the strapless flip flop soleadjacent to bottom of the wearer's heel and thereby prevents thedisadvantage of prior art combination shoes and socks where the heelwill lift away from the sole during a stride and the material of thesock that was surrounding the ankle then slides beneath the heel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of combination sock and strapless flip flop sole areset forth in the following detailed description of the invention and inthe drawing figures:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the combination sock and straplessflip flop sole.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-section view of the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole.

FIG. 3 is a front cross-section view of the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole.

FIG. 4 is a rear cross-section view of the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As stated earlier, the novel construction of the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole of the invention 12 shown in the drawing FIGS.1-4 overcomes disadvantages associated with prior related art such asshoe and sock constructions by securely holding the sock of thecombination sock and strapless flip flop sole to the forefront of awearer's foot as the wearer walks wearing the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole. The construction of the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole 12 is basically comprised of a strapless flipflop sole 14, and sock 16. The combination sock and strapless flip flopsole of the invention is described herein and is shown in the drawingfigures by only referring to one of a left foot and right foot pair ofthe combination sock and strapless flip flop sole. Because the left andright foot pairs are mirror images of each other, only one combinationsock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention is described herein.

The strapless flip flop sole 14 is constructed of materials typicallyemployed of advanced athletic & casual sandals & flip flops shoes suchas crocks, athletic shoes, flip flops, and sandals. In addition, thestrapless flip flop sole 14 of the invention could have substantiallythe same constructions as other known casual shoes and advanced flipflops that provide comfortable support to the bottom of the wearer'sfoot. In view of this, the strapless flip flop sole 14 of thecombination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 is shown only generallyin the drawing figures, without specific details of the strapless flipflop sole construction being shown or described herein. The straplessflip flop sole 14 basically has a top surface 24 that supports thewearer's foot, and an opposite bottom surface 26 that functions as thetraction surface of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole12. The strapless flip flop sole 14 also has a sidewall that extendscompletely around the sole and separates the top surface 24 from thebottom surface 26. The sidewall has opposite toe 28 and heel 32sections, and opposite side sections 32, 34 that together completelysurround the strapless flip flop sole 14. In the cross-section view ofFIGS. 2-3, it can be seen that an upper margin of the sole sidewallextends upwardly from the sole top surface 24.

In the illustrated embodiment of the combination sock and strapless flipflop sole 12 shown in the drawing figures, a toe cap 42 is provided overthe toe area of the strapless flip flop sole 14. In other embodiments ofthe combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12, the toe cap 42could be eliminated.

The sock 16 is secured to the top surface 24 of the strapless flip flopsole 14. Adhesives, Velcro or other equivalent methods could be employedin securing the sock 16 to the strapless flip flop sole 14. The sock 16is constructed of fabric or material typically employed in constructingsocks. Such materials could have elastic properties that will securelyhold the sock 16 around the configuration of a wearer's foot andforefront. Furthermore, the sock 16 shown in the drawing figures has anextended length that will extend well over the calf of a wearer's leg.This extended length of the exterior sock 16 is illustrative only, andthe sock of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of theinvention could and can be of any length.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the sock 16 has a bottom portion 44 that issecured to the top surface 24 of the strapless flip flop sole 14. Thisbottom portion 44 is basically dimensioned to underlie the bottom of awearer's foot, without wearer's walking stride and in stance, whereasthe wearer's foot is flat on the surface. The sock 16 extends upwardlyfrom the strapless flip flop sole 14 adjacent the sidewall of thestrapless flip flop sole. A vamp portion 46 of the sock extends upwardlyfrom the bottom portion 44 from the toe section 28 of the sole sidewalland adjacent the side sections 34, 36 of the sole sidewall. The vampportion 46 is dimensioned to cover over a forward portion of a wearer'sfoot.

A heel portion 48 of the sock 16 also extends upwardly from the bottomportion 44. The heel portion 48 of the sock extends upwardly along theheel section 32 of the strapless flip flop sole sidewall and along theside sections 34, 36 of the sidewall. The heel portion extends forwardlyand joins with the vamp portion 46 of the sock and is dimensioned tosurround the heel of a wearer's foot.

A forefront portion 52 of the sock 16 extends upwardly from the sockvamp portion 46 and heel portion 48. The embodiment of the combinationsock and strapless flip flop sole 12 in the drawing figures comprises anexterior sock ankle portion 52 that extends upwardly from the sock vampportion 46 and heel portion 48. In other embodiments of the invention,the length of the forefront portion 52 could be much shorter with theforefront portion 52 extending only around the forefront of a wearer'sfoot. The top of the exterior sock forefront portion 52 defines aforefront opening 54 into the combination sock and strapless flip flopsole 12.

In the embodiment of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole12 shown in the drawing figures, the upper portions of the straplessflip flop sole sidewall sections 28, 32, 34, 36 extend over the sock 16.These upward extensions of the sidewall of the strapless flip flop sole14 provide a secure connection between the strapless flip flop sole 14and the sock 16. In other embodiments of the combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole only the bottom portion 44 of the sock 16 issecured to the strapless flip flop sole top surface 24.

With the wearer's foot inserted into the combination sock and straplessflip flop sole 12, the embedded elastic band adjoined with the bottomportion of Velcro of the sock 16, securely engages around the forefrontof the wearer's foot by adjoining to the top of the strapless flip flopsole by Velcro top surface of the strapless flip flop sole. This securesthe combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 to the wearer'sfoot. When walking with the combination sock and strapless flip flopsole on the wearer's foot, as the heel of the foot is lifted during astride, the elastic band of the sock securely holds the strapless flipflop sole adjacent the bottom of the wearer's heel and thereby preventsthe disadvantage of prior art combination shoes and socks where the heelwill lift away from the sole during a stride and the material of thesock that was surrounding the ankle then slides beneath the heel.

Although the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of theinvention has been described above by referring to a particularembodiment, it should be understood that modifications and variationscould be made to the combination sock and strapless flip flop solewithout departing from the intended scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination sock and strapless flip flop solecomprising: a strapless flip flop sole having opposite top and bottomsurfaces and a sidewall that extends entirely around the strapless flipflop sole and separates the top surface and the bottom surface, thesidewall having a toe section and a heel section at opposite ends of thestrapless flip flop sole and the sidewall having a left side section anda right side section at opposite sides of the strapless flip flop sole,the strapless flip flop sole bottom surface being an exterior tractionsurface of the strapless flip flop sole; an external and internal sockconstructed of a flexible material that is more flexible than thestrapless flip flop sole, the external sock being secured to thestrapless flip flop sole top surface and extending upwardly from thestrapless flip flop sole sidewall (adjoined), the external sock having abottom portion that is secured partially (medially) to the straplessflip flop sole top surface, the elastic straps adjoined by the vampportion that extends upwardly from the bottom portion along the leftside section, the right side section, and the toe section of thestrapless flip flop sole sidewall, a heel portion that extends upwardlyfrom the bottom portion along the left side section, the right sidesection, and the heel section of the strapless flip flop sole sidewall,and an ankle portion that extends upwardly from the vamp portion and thedorsal portion extends around an elastic opening of the sock, where thebottom portion, the vamp portion, heel portion and the ankle portion ofthe socks) are a single continuous piece of material; embedded (possiblywoven) in the inside bottom of the external sock the elastic band;embedded on the outside bottom of the external sock Velcro or any otheradhesive material, the sock composed and having elastic properties thatenable the dorsal or vamp elastic band opening to be stretched from acontracted dorsal or vamp (top) opening area to an expanded palmer(bottom) opening area that is larger than the contracted dorsal or vampopening area, and that enable the sock(s) bottom opening to return tothe contracted palmar opening area after being stretched to the expandeddorsal opening area.
 2. The combination sock and strapless flip flopsole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock can be of any lengthextending upwardly from the strapless flip flop sole either beyond oruntil the sock reaches the ankle.
 3. The combination sock and straplessflip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock heel portionbeing separate from and not secured to strapless flip flop sole.
 4. Thecombination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, furthercomprising: the sock forefoot portion adjoined and secured to straplessflip flop sole.
 5. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole ofclaim 1, further comprising: the sock being constructed of a flexiblematerial.
 6. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim1, further comprising: the sock being constructed of a continuousmaterial that completely surrounds a wearer's foot.
 7. The combinationsock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: thesock of continuous material is able to fully engage (adjoin) anddisengage from any portion of the strapless flip flop sole, at thediscretion and intention of the wearer.
 8. The combination sock andstrapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising; internal sockthat conceals structure and is adjoined (possibly woven) into externalsock.
 9. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1,further comprising, gel made material is embedded in the sole or sock ofthe combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.